Creed

[Tiggsy]

Been looking forward to this for a while now. So much so that I made my other half (who's a lot younger and had never seen a Rocky) sit through all 6 during December so that we would be ready!

Local cinema (Reading - possibly one of the best in the country now) was literally empty at 10pm so we settled down with our coffees and off we go...

It's superb! Best film I've seen in a while. OK, it's not perfect.... A few too many uses of "real style TV interviews/pundits talking" and "frezze frames" that display boxers stats for no real benifit. And a few too many times that it tries to do old Rocky "stuff" in a new way (the horrible jogging with the motorbikes scene from the trailer only looks worse in the movie) and Creeds speech to the crowd post fight is more cringingly Rocky 4 than goose bumpy "adrian!!!!!" from Rocky.......but thats all.

It's long......but, unlike the Reverent, didn't bore me. Michael B Jordan (who I haven't seen since he was 13 in the Wire) is in great shape and fights/acts fine. Stallone has perfected playing Rocky to the point where you feel like you are literally watching Rocky, not Stallone - awards coming his way, for sure.

And the best bit-the fight scene choreography and filming is amazing (far better than southpaw..... Which was also very good) the constant revolving of the camera around the fighters makes you feel completely immersed in the bout...... yet it always seems to be in the perfect place to film the crucial hits (no idea what category this gets awards in-but it deserves some)

My only caveat to all this is that...... it helps massively if you are a Rocky fan. GF enjoyed it but not to the same extent (but she's a girl - if you're a 42 year old who watched Rocky disrobe in Rocky 4 to reveal his chiselled from steel body post Russian training montage...... and immediately went out and bought plastic dumbbells.....its a different story)

And lastly - the music (which I have always loved and still have on my gym playlist) is used brilliantly. For 95% of the film I wished it was more prominent as they only used the subtlest of touches of it...... but when it finally kicks in it gave me an even bigger buzz than the Star Wars theme did last month.

8.5/10 - if you're a fan of the series, this will not disappoint (for me, perfect combination of Rocky 4 and Balboa....... and better than either as a result - although nothing can, and ever will, top 4's training montage and Drago jogging round an empty sports hall in white Lycra's whacking speedballs as he goes)

[vxr8mate]

"It's long......but, unlike the Reverent, didn't bore me."

Reverent? Not seen that one, but if you mean Reverend I can see why you were probably bored. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1073240/

Now...if you're talking about Revenant I'm not sure I agree with you there.

[Guvernator]

Tiggsy said:

And lastly - the music (which I have always loved and still have on my gym playlist) is used brilliantly. For 95% of the film I wished it was more prominent as they only used the subtlest of touches of it...... but when it finally kicks in it gave me an even bigger buzz than the Star Wars theme did last month.

I was lead to believe by a friend that it doesn't feature any traditional Rocky music, instead opting for gansta rap and for this reason I've avoided seeing it as IMO a Rocky film isn't a Rocky film without some rocking 80's power ballads. Have I been misinformed?

[Tiggsy]

Guvernator said:

Tiggsy said:

And lastly - the music (which I have always loved and still have on my gym playlist) is used brilliantly. For 95% of the film I wished it was more prominent as they only used the subtlest of touches of it...... but when it finally kicks in it gave me an even bigger buzz than the Star Wars theme did last month.

I was lead to believe by a friend that it doesn't feature any traditional Rocky music, instead opting for gansta rap and for this reason I've avoided seeing it as IMO a Rocky film isn't a Rocky film without some rocking 80's power ballads. Have I been misinformed?

sort of.....Stallone made clear he was not involved with behind the camera stuff as its NOT a Rocky story.....its a younger, black kids story and the music/themes reflect that. But they know how big a part of this Rocky is and use subtle hints of old music in various places - for me, they did so, teasingly so that when it finally gets used you've been waiting for it all movie. It's not a big part of the film...but its NOT his story. And was certainly more effective than Star Wars "look, its the Falcon over there...remember that kids?" approach!

I love the originals - and loved this. It's not 1976 anymore! Time moves on....thats the point of the film in a way, passing the story onwards.

[Tiggsy]

vxr8mate said:

Now...if you're talking about Revenant I'm not sure I agree with you there.

You dont agree I was bored? I assure you I was!

[Joey Ramone]

I saw Creed last week, and thought it was superb. Stallone was absolutely worth all the talk of a possible oscar for best supporting actor. Brilliant story, well told and superbly filmed. Can't recommend it highly enough.

[rubystone]

Yep, loved it. Didn't care for the motorbikes though. Stallone was brilliant in it too.

[Blaster72]

rubystone said:

Yep, loved it. Didn't care for the motorbikes though. Stallone was brilliant in it too.

Sums it up for me too. Excellent film, Stallone is ace in it too.

[Cybertronian]

When I first heard this was in production, I was worried as a long time Rocky fan. The premise sounded just like the much maligned Rocky 5, except it involved Apollo Creed's kid. My other worry was it would be a Rocky movie in all but name; as welcome as another pure Rocky movie would be, Rocky's tale had finished and I hoped the folks behind the movie had the balls to only use Rocky sparingly and respectfully in the story, and allow Adonis Creed to develop fully rather than be a sidekick.

I saw this last week and need not have worried at all. It had the modern look of Rocky Balboa, but felt much fresher in theme and tone. As said already, the music works very well and teases the audience with a few nods here and there of familiar tunes from the back catalogue. The boxing was brutal and I felt reached the right balance of looking cinematic, yet realistic like a televised event. I personally loved the Top Trumps style stats cards that periodically flashed up - fitted really well with the younger main character focus of Adonis.

Crucially, like the best Rocky movies, it had a lot of heart and I'll defo be picking it up on home release where it'll sit neatly next to the other Rocky movies on my shelf.

[Dan_1981]

Watched on Friday.

Was expecting to enjoy it as I do like a good boxing film, and enjoy the Rocky series.

However it was far better than expected, a really good film in it's own right. The wife loved it and was in tears at one point!.

Regular little nods to the series but nothing to major, big smile when the music kicks in. The shorts were a great touch too..... and the steps.

Cracking film.

Oh and it even had a montage

[Guvernator]

Have to agree, after having my expectations set low by a friend who'd seen it and found it a bit disappointing, I was very pleasantly surprised. Great acting by Stallone matching his brilliant performance from the first Rocky movie and the guy playing Creed wasn't bad either.

Decent build up, good montage scenes and the fights were spectacular with the way the camera seemed to put you right in the middle of the action, if still a little OTT (I've never seen a boxer take so many solid hits and still keep going). Most importantly like any good Rocky movie it had plenty of heart. A great return to form for the ageing franchise and actor.

I've also learnt never to trust my friends opinion on a film.

[greygoose]

Just watched it on Netflix and thought it was really good, back to the first one in quality storytelling. Good performances all round especially Stallone as the old trainer.

[sparks_E39]

I watched this on the flight to New York earlier this year, a few days later we hired a car and drive to Philadelphia just so I could go up those stairs!

I thought it was a brilliant film.

[J4CKO]

Yeah, not really my thing but really enjoyed it, also saw it on a flight, a great way to see films you otherwise wouldnt bother with seeing as you cant go anywhere.

[m444ttb]

I re-watched this again today and enjoyed it as much as the first time. Looking forward to the sequel at the end of next year (if that's still the case).